a history

Victor, Mathilde and one daughter, Pauline, are all buried in Liverpool’s Greenbank Drive Hebrew Congregation’s cemetery in Green Lane, Tuebrook, West Derby.

Victor is buried in plot G2, Mathilde in GG5 and Pauline in DD1. It is likely that Phillip, Victor’s last son (died at the age of eight), is also buried here, but a record of his interment has not been found.

The cemetery was opened in 1839 and ceased to be used in 1952. A local survey of the cemetery in 1979 estimated some 700 interments altogether, although only 415 tombstones were found in various stages of decay and deterioration. Inscriptions were often illegible at the time of the survey.

In 2005, AGK visited the cemetery but was unable to gain access. All entrances appear to have been bricked up. A local resident suggested this was to protect against vandalism; the cemetery is hemmed-in by large housing estates. From what could be seen over a high wall, the cemetery has been abandoned to nature and is densely overgrown with trees, bushes and shrubs. Gravestones are unlikely to survive this neglect. At the moment (January 2011) there are no plans to refurbish the grounds.

A new cemetery (in Long Lane, Fazakerly) largely superseded Green Lane from about 1921 onwards, by which time our known Kahns had all left the area.

We hold a copy of a plot plan of Green Lane Cemetery and will be happy to look up grave references and names for anyone interested. contactus@kahngene.org.uk